The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Friday, Jan. 16, confirmed that X, the platform owner of Grok, has formally reached out to the Philippine government and proposed corrective measures amid concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) for deepfake abuse involving women and children.

In a statement, the DICT said the government has made clear that it expects more than verbal commitments from technology platforms.

“We also confirm that X, the platform owner of Grok, has formally reached out to DICT Secretary Henry Aguda and is proposing corrective measures and stronger safeguards, especially for the protection of women and children,” it said.

However, the agency stressed that assurances alone would not be acceptable.

“The government expects concrete, enforceable actions, not just assurances, to ensure AI technologies are never used to enable abuse, exploitation, or harm.”

The DICT said the engagement with X comes as it closely monitors global actions against Grok following reports of its alleged misuse in generating non-consensual, sexually explicit, and manipulated images, including deepfakes involving women and minors.

Several countries, the agency noted, have already blocked or launched investigations into the platform over possible violations of online safety, child protection, and human rights standards.

“In line with the government’s duty to safeguard Filipinos in digital spaces, DICT is coordinating with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and relevant authorities to assess possible regulatory measures under Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, particularly its provisions on content-related offenses and the State’s mandate to suppress the use of ICT for illegal acts,” it stated.

The agency said discussions with X will be guided by the government’s policy that emerging technologies must not be allowed to facilitate harm, particularly against vulnerable sectors.

The DICT said it will continue working with concerned agencies as it evaluates appropriate actions to ensure stronger safeguards are in place and to uphold the protection of women and children in the country’s digital environment.